Supporting apparatus for venetian blinds



W. W. LEWIS SUPPORTINGAPPARATUS' FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed March 17, 1938 FIG.

. 11v VENTOR WILL/AM W LEWIS A TTORNEV April '25, 1939.

Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE surroarme APPARATUS Fon vananm BLINDS William Weaver Lewis. Port Washington, N. Y. Application March 1'], 1938, Serial No. 196,325

10 Claims. (01. 156-17) This invention relates to apparatus for a Venetian blind, and more particularly to a unitary supporting apparatus for different sizes of Venetian blinds.

In the commercial application of Venetian blinds it is a frequent practice to utilize header and tilt bars having widths of 1%, 2, and'2% inches, and consequently, it happens that such Venetian blinds have a .drop of either 1% or 1% inches depending on the widths of the'header and tilt bars. As used here the drop is the distance between the lower surface of the header bar and the longitudinal axis of a journaling means attachable to a tilt bar and rotatable in a supporting device depending from the header bar. In other words the drop is the vertical distance between the under surfac of a header bar and the axis of rotation of a tilt bar. Heretofore,

it has been the'practice to provide such supporting devices individualto each drop thereby necessitating at least two types of such devices for the sizes of Venetian blinds mentioned above.

It is an object of the invention to provide a unitary supporting device for different sizes of Venetian blinds.

' It is another object of the invention to provide a supporting mechanism capable of facile adjustment for association with various sizes of Venetian blinds. y

it is a further object 'of theinvention to provide a "supporting mechanism that is expeditious- 1y adaptable for use in assembly units for Venetian blinds- A well known type of Venetian blind assembly includes a header bar on one end of which is mounted a tilting mechanism for supporting one. end of a tilt bar carrying a plurality of slats suspended on textile ladders. The tilting mechanism serves to impart rotary'movements to the tilt bar, and therefore to the slats.

present invention contemplating a unitary arrangement for providing a bearing for a journal affixed to the end of the tilt bar opposite to that associated with the tilting mechanism comprises a bracket attachable to the undersurface of the header bar and formed with an opening therein. On the bracket is a member providedwith at least two discrete openings and rotatable across the opening in the bracket such that in one position one opening in the member is aligned with the opening in the bracket to provide at one distance from the header bar a bearing to receive the journal, and in another position a second opening in the member is aligned with the opening in the bracket to provide at a different distance from the header bar a second bearing to receive the journal.

The invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken together 5 with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of the invention incorporated in a Venetian blind assembly;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of one form of the 10 invention showing one bearing spaced a certain distance from the header bar;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial front elevation of one form of the invention showing a second bearing spaced a different distance from the header bar;

Figs. 5 and 6 are partial front elevations illustrating another embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 7 is a view taken along line 1- -l in Fig. 2 and showing stop arrangement.

In the drawing the same reference numerals are used to identify the same elements appearing in the several figures thereof.

Referring to Fig. 1 a header bar H1 is mounted 25 in a window casing in a common fashion, not shown. Attached to the undersuriace of the header bar at one end is atilting device, not

shown, which supports in a well known manner one end of a tilt bar ll whose opposite end can ries an L-shaped plate I2 secured thereto by screws l3. Provided on the short leg of the plate i2 is a journal ll extending in a direction coincident with the axis of rotation of the tilt bar and cooperating with the tilting mechanism to produce rotary movements of the tilt bar in the well known manner. It is understood that the slats and textile ladders forming the blind are assembled and attached to the bar in the usual manner. The tilting device is preferably of a 40 type disclosed in my Patent No. 2,108,939 issued February 22, 1938.

In accordance with the invention,'--Figs. l and 2 show a bracket l5 comprising a horizontal leg l6 embodying suitable apertures to accommodate screws 18 for attaching the bracket to the undersurface of the header bar andalso a vertical leg I!) in the lower central portion of which is an opening 20 commencing at the lowermost periphery and extending in a vertical direction an amount that will be hereinafter explained.

Immediately above the opening 20 is disposed a pivot 26 which rotatably supports an anchorshaped member 21 comprising a hub portion 28,

a left-hand curvilinear extension 29 and a right- 86 hand curvilinear extension-38. Between the hub portion 28 and the left-hand extension 29 is formed a curvilinear opening 3| while between the hub portion 28 and the right-hand extension 30 is formed a curvilinear opening 32. It is understood that the curvilinear openings 3| and 32 have unequal radii relative to the pivot 26, and further that the radius of the opening 3| is shorter than that of the opening 32. The lengths of the openings 3| and 32 will be hereinafter described.

Provided on the ends of the left-hand extension 29 and the right-hand extension 30 and projecting at an angle of 90 degrees relative thereto are finger grips 33 and 34, respectively.

Formed integral with the hub portion 28 is a. tongue 35 embodying a detent 36. The latter is accommodable in aperture 31 (Fig. 4) and in aperture 38 (Fig. 2) both of which are formed in the vertical leg l9 and arranged in a circumferential manner relative to the pivot 26. As the detent 36 is received in the recess 38 (Fig. 7) clockwise movement of the member 21 is arrested, and as the detent 36 is accommodated in the recess 31 (Fig. '7) counter-clockwise movement of the member 21 is terminated. The tongue 35 is also formed with an arcuated portion 39 that serves to provide spring-action as the detent 36 is seated in the respective apertures as described above. It is understobd that the stops comprising the detent and apertures are shown in their simplest form and any structure accomplishing the desired purpose may also be used.

In Fig. 2 the bracket is shown arranged for a drop of 1% inches. This is achieved by grasping one of the finger grips 33 and 34 and moving the member 27 in a counter-clockwise direction until the dot-dash position shown in Fig. 2 is assumed. This uncovers the vertical opening 20 to allow the disposal of the journal l4 thereinto. The member 21 is then rotated slowly in a clockwise direction to position the journal l4 in the curvilinear opening 3| and this movement is continued until the detent 36 is seated in the ap'erture 31. Then, the member 21 assumes the position' shown in full lines in Fig. 2. Accordingly, it is seen that the curvilinear opening 3| has a a length such that the lowermost portion thereof aligns with the uppermost portion of the vertical opening 20 to provide a bearing for the journal l4. Consequently, with openings 28 and 3| so aligned there is provided a supporting device having a drop of 1% inches, or in other words, at which distance from the header bar a bearing accommodates the journal l4 to cooperate with the tilting mechanism for producing rotary movements of the tilt bar.

In Figs. 1 and 4 the bracket I is shown arranged for a drop of 1 inches. This is attained by grasping one of the finger grips 33 and 34 and actuating the mcmber2l in a clockwise direction until the dot-dash position shown in Fig. 4 is assumed. This uncovers the vertical opening 20 to permit the insertion of the journal |4 thereinto. The member 21 is then rotated slowly in a counter-clockwise direction to position the journal M in the opening 32 and this movement continued until the detent 36 is seated in the recess 38. Then, the member 21 assumes the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4. In this position it is seen that the curvilinear opening 32 has a length such that the lowermost portion thereof aligns with the lowermost portion of the vertical opening 20 to provide a bearing for the journal l4. Thus, with the openings 28 and 32 so aligned there is provided a supporting device having a. drop of 1% inches, or in other words, at which distance from the header bar a bearing receives the journal l4 to cooperate with the tilting mechanism for producing rotarymovements of the tilt bar.

Inasmuch as the openings 3| and 32 have different radii as hereinbefore mentioned it will be noted that the vertical opening 20 has a length adequate to permit alignments of curvilinear openings 3| and 32 therewith as described above. Since the curvilinear opening 3| has the shorter radius the alignment thereof with the vertical opening 20 will provide the drop of 1% inches, and as the curvilinear opening 32 has the longer radius the alignment thereof with the vertical opening 20 will form the drop of 1 inches.

Another form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and fiembodies a member 45 rotatably mounted on the pivot 26 carried by the bracket I5. The member 45 is provided with an internal opening 46 and an opening 41 extending from substantially the midpoint of the opening 46 to the periphery of the member 45. An integral finger grip 48 serves to produce clockwise and counterclockwise movements of the member 45.

A stopping arrangement for the member 45 is identical with that shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 7 for the member 21, and comprises a tongue 56 formed integral with the member 45 and embodying a detent 5|. The latter is accommodable in aperture 52 (Fig. 6) and aperture 53 (Fig. 5), both of which are provided in the vertical leg i9 and disposed in circumferential fashion relative to the pivot 26. Movements of the member 45 are arrested as the detent 5| is seated in either of the apertures 52 and 53. Tongue 58 is also formed with an arcuated portion 55 that functions to seat the detent 5| with the snap action.

Fig. 5 shows this form of the invention arranged to provide a drop of 1% inches. This is obtained by grasping the finger grip 48 and actuating the member 45 until the dot-dash position shown in Fig. 5 is assumed. This aligns opening 47 with opening 20 to permit the disposal of the journal l4 in the substantially central portion of the opening 46. The member 45 is then rotated slowly in a counter-clockwise direction untilthe detent 5| is seated in the aperture 52. This positions the journal I4 in the uppermost portion of the opening 28 and at the same time in the extreme left-hand portion of the opening 46. With the respective openings so aligned there is formed for the journal M a bearing which is 1% inches distant from the undersurface of the header bar, and is shown in full lines in Fig. 5. As thus positioned the journal |4 cooperates with the tilting mechanism to produce rotary movements of the tilt bar.

Fig. 6 illustrates this form of the invention arranged to provide a drop of 1 inches. This is accomplished by actuating the member 45 until the dot-dash position shown in Fig. 5 is assumed. Through the aligned openings 20 and 41 the journal I4 is then passed to the substantially central portion of the opening 46 whereupon themember 45 is moved in a clockwise direction until the detent 5| is-seated in the aperture 53. This positions the journal M in the lowermost portion of the opening 20 and at the same timein the extreme right-hand portion of the opening 46. With the respective openings so aligned there is formed for the journal M a bearing which is 1% inches distant from the undersurface of the header bar, and is shown in full lines in Fig. 6. As thus positioned the journal |4 cooperates with the tilting mechanism to produce rotary movements of the tilt bar.

It is understood that the invention is capable of modifications other than those disclosed here- 5 in, andthe scope thereof together with such modifications is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a supporting mechanism for a Venetian blind including header means, a tilt bar and journaling means therefor; means attachable to the header means and having an opening and means for covering different portions of the opening to provide bearings for the journaling means at varying distances from the header means in such manner that as each portion of theopening is covered only one bearing is provided.

2. In a supporting mechanism for a Venetian blind including a header means, a tilt bar and journaling means for the tilt bar; means attachable to the header means and having an opening, and means mounted movably on the attachable means for covering the' opening at the opposite ends thereof to provide bearings for the journaling means at varying distances from the header 26 means in such manner that the movable means covers only one end of the opening at a given time to provide only one-bearing thereby.

3. In an adjustable mechanism for a Venetian blind including a header bar, a tilt bar and jour- 30 naling means for the tilt bar; means attachable to the header bar and having an opening, and means aflixed to the attachable means for covering different portions of the opening to'provide bearings for the journaling means and movable I so as at one time to cover one portion of the opening in the attachable means to provide one bearing at one distance from the header bar and at another time to cover a diiferent' portion of the opening in the attachable means to provide a 40 second hearing at a different distance from the header bar.

4. In an adjustable mechanism for a Venetian blind including a header bar, a tilt bar and journaling means for the tilt bar; means attachable 5 to the headerbar and having an opening, and means having an opening and rotatably mounted on the attachable means such that diiIerent portions of the opening therein are alignable with different portions of the opening in the attach- 5 able means at different times to provide a least two discrete bearings for the journaling means at varying distances from the header bar in such manner that as the respective portions of the openings are aligned only one bearing is provided.

55 5. In an adjustable mechanism for a Venetian blind including a header bar, a tilt bar and journaling means for the tilt'bar; a bracket attachable to the header bar, the bracket having securing means and an opening, and means having v 60 two openings of different radii and rotatably mounted on the bracket to provide bearings for the journaling means such that at one time one of the two openings is alignable with one portion of the opening in the bracket at one distance from 65 the header bar to provide a first bearing while at another time the other of the two openings is alignable with a difierent portion of the opening in the bracket at a different distance from the header bar to provide a second bearing.

1o 6. In an adjustable supporting mechanism for a Venetian blind including a header bar, a tilt bar and journaling means for the tilt bar; a bracket attachable to the header bar, the bracket having securing means and an opening, means 1 rotatably fastened to the bracket and having at least two openings of different radii and means for actuating the rotatable means so that the openings therein will individually align with the opening in the bracket at different times and at different distances from the header bar to provide 5 discrete bearings for the journaling means at varying distances from the header bar in such manner that as each opening in the rotatable means aligns with the opening in the bracket only one bearing is provided. 10

' 7. In an adjustable mechanism for a Venetian blind including a header bar, a tilt bar and journaling means-for the tilt bar; a bracket attachable to the header bar, the bracket having securing means and a vertical opening, a pivot dis- 15 posed above the vertical opening, a member having two openings at diiferent-radii and rotatably mounted on the pivot to provide bearings for the journaling means, means for actuating the member in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, 20 and stops for arresting the movements of the member in such mannerthat movement arrested in the counter-clockwise direction 'causes at one time a first opening in the member to alignwith one portion off'the vertical opening toprovide a 25 first bearing at one distance from the header bar while movement arrested inthe clockwise direction causes at another time a second opening in the member to align with another portion of the vertical opening to provide a second bearing 80 at a different distance from the header bar.

8. In a supporting mechanism for a Venetian blind including header means, a :tilt bar and journaling means therefor; means attachable to the header means and having an opening, the opening 85 being normal relative to'an axis of the header means, and means for alternately covering the opposite end portions of the opening to provide at least two bearings for the journaling means at varying distances from th header means in such 0 manner that as each end portion of the opening is covered a bearing is provided at the opposite end portion.

9. In a supporting mechanism for a Venetian blind including header means, a tilt bar and journaling means therefor; means attachable to the header means and having an opening, and slidable means for covering different portions of the opening to provide bearings for the journaling means comprising opposing projections so that 5 when the slidable means is moved to one position a first projection covers a certain portion of the opening to provide at one distance from the header means a first bearing and when the slidable means is moved to another position the opposing a projection covers a difierent portion of the opening to provide at a diiferent distance from the header means a second bearing.

10. In a supporting mechanism for a Venetian blind including a header bar, a tilt bar and journaling means therefor; means attachable to the header bar and having an opening, and slidable means for covering different portions of the opening to provide bearings for the journaling means comprising two pairs of oppositely disposed projections each pair of which is offset from the other so that when the slidable means is moved to one position one pair of projections covers certain portions of the opening to provide at one distance from the header bar a first bearing and when the slidable means is moved to another position the other pair of projections covers diflerent portions of the opening to provide at a different distance from the header bar a second bearing.

WILLIAM WEAVER LEWIS. 15

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION, Patent No. 2,155,92 1 April 25, 19 9,

WILLIAM WEAVER LEWIS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, first column, line 50, claim 1 for "af' before "least" read at; and second column, line 17, cleim 7, for "at" read of; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction thereinthat the some may conform to the record of the case in the Potent Office.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of June, AQD. 19 59o Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Cofiimissioner of Patents. 

